Album Review
G.F. Mlely made a strong impression as a pianist in the 1980s. In the years since, he spent a long period outside of music due to the need to raise his son, and he had some physical problems that finally and fortunately seem to be in the past. Mlely has re-emerged in the 21st century with his musical vision unimpaired. A Little Night Waltz was recorded in 1991 (except for a solo piece from 2003), but the music has never been released before. Mlely, a deep thinker, has developed the "Eight-Tone Quarto-Modes Concept," which he features as his piano solo. Otherwise, the music (all originals) is performed with bassist Bill Markus and drummer Gene Stone, with nearly half of the songs being in 3/4 time. Mlely displays a virtuosic style that is strikingly original, particularly in his chord voicings. He romps through most of the complex tunes and, while his playing is tonal, it is quite unpredictable. "It's Not the End" is the hardest swinging (and most conventional) piece, while the waltzes (the title cut, the relatively laid-back "Words We Say" and "Thornbird") show just how inventive a player he can be. Owing little to the usual influences (McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans, and Thelonious Monk), Mlely displays his own fresh voice. He deserves to be much better known.
